Ice unloading method of ice maker

Abstract

The invention provides a de-icing method of an ice maker, the ice maker comprises an ice cylinder and a refrigeration system for refrigerating the ice cylinder, the refrigeration system comprises a compressor, a condenser and an evaporation pipe, and the evaporation pipe is wound on the periphery of the ice cylinder; the deicing method comprises the following steps: detecting the temperature T of an ice cylinder, and comparing the temperature T of the ice cylinder with a preset ice-making temperature Tice; if the temperature T of the ice barrel is lower than the preset ice making temperature Tice and the ice is continuously frozen for the freezing time t, refrigerants in a compressor, a condenser and an evaporation pipe are controlled to flow reversely to heat the ice barrel; and when the heating time reaches the preset heating time t for heating or the ice cylinder temperature T reaches the preset deicing temperature T for deicing, the ice blocks are taken out to complete deicing. According to the deicing method of the ice maker, the ice maker is heated by switching the flow direction of the refrigerant in the refrigerating system, and a heating device does not need to be additionally arranged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of refrigeration equipment, and particularly to a defrosting method for an ice maker. Background Art

[0002] After the existing ice maker finishes making ice, the ice cubes are usually frozen to the inner wall of the ice barrel, making it difficult to take ice from the ice barrel. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a defrosting method for an ice maker, which heats the ice barrel after the ice making in the ice barrel is completed, so that the ice in the ice barrel melts from the ice barrel, solving the problem of difficult ice taking from the ice barrel in the prior art.

[0004] In order to achieve one of the above-mentioned invention purposes, an embodiment of the present invention provides a defrosting method for an ice maker. The ice maker includes an ice barrel and a refrigeration system for refrigerating the ice barrel. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporation pipe, and the evaporation pipe is wound around the outer periphery of the ice barrel;

[0005] The defrosting method includes the following steps:

[0006] Detect the temperature T of the ice barrel, and compare the temperature T of the ice barrel with the preset ice making temperature T 冰 for comparison;

[0007] If the temperature T of the ice barrel < the preset ice making temperature T 冰 , and the continuous ice making time t 结冰 , then control the refrigerant in the compressor, condenser, and evaporation pipe to flow in the reverse direction to heat the ice barrel;

[0008] When the heating time reaches the preset heating time t 加热 or the temperature T of the ice barrel reaches the preset defrosting temperature T 脱冰 , take out the ice cubes to complete defrosting.

[0009] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the preset ice making temperature T 冰 is -12 to -5 °C.

[0010] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the ice making time t 结冰 is 5 - 30 min.

[0011] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the preset heating time t 加热 is 10 - 180 s.

[0012] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the preset defrosting temperature T 脱冰 is -5 to 5 °C.

[0013] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the ice cylinder is provided with a water inlet and a heating wire disposed at the water inlet;

[0014] When the temperature T of the ice cylinder < the preset ice-making temperature T 冰 , and the continuous ice-making time t 结冰 , while heating the ice cylinder, control to turn on the heating wire to heat the water inlet.

[0015] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, when the heating time of the heating wire reaches t 加热丝 , or the temperature T of the ice cylinder reaches the heating wire closing temperature T 加热丝 , then control to turn off the heating wire.

[0016] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the heating time t of the heating wire 加热丝 > the preset heating time t 加热 , the heating wire closing temperature T 加热丝 > the preset ice-removing temperature T 脱冰 .

[0017] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the heating time t of the heating wire 加热丝 is 60 - 180 s, and the heating wire closing temperature T 加热丝 is -5 to 10 °C.

[0018] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the ice maker further includes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the ice cylinder, and the temperature sensor is disposed on the outer side wall of the ice cylinder or at a position of the ice cylinder close to the water inlet.

[0019] One or more technical solutions provided by the present invention have at least the following technical effects or advantages:

[0020] The ice-removing method of the ice maker provided by the present invention, when the ice cylinder reaches the preset ice-making temperature T 冰 and the continuous ice-making time t 结冰 , it is considered that the ice cylinder has completed this ice-making. Switch the flow direction of the refrigerant in the compressor, condenser and evaporation tube of the refrigeration system to heat the ice cylinder, so that the surface of the ice cubes melts and detaches from the inner wall of the ice cylinder, and the ice-removing can be completed, which is convenient for users to take ice. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the ice maker in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 is Figure 1 the top view of the ice maker in

[0023] Figure 3 is Figure 2Schematic cross-sectional view along line A-A

[0024] Figure 4 is Figure 3 Enlarged view at B in

[0025] Figure 5 is a flowchart of the ice removal control method for the ice maker in the embodiment of the present invention

[0026] 1. Ice barrel; 11. Ice making chamber; 12. Water inlet; 13. Ice outlet; 14. Spiral groove; 2. Water tank; 21. Water storage chamber; 22. Water outlet; 23. Exhaust pipe; 24. Water filling plug; 3. Evaporation pipe; 4. Water supply pipe; 41. Valve; 5. Thermal insulation layer Detailed implementation manners

[0027] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention

[0028] Spatial relative position terms used herein, such as "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., are for the purpose of facilitating description to describe the relationship of one unit or feature relative to another unit or feature as shown in the accompanying drawings. The spatial relative position terms may be intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation other than the orientation shown in the figures

[0029] For example, if the device in the figure is flipped, the unit described as being "below" or "beneath" other units or features will be located "above" other units or features. Therefore, the exemplary term "below" can encompass both the upper and lower orientations. The device may be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or other orientations), and the spatially related descriptive terms used herein are to be interpreted accordingly

[0030] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it may be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it may be the communication inside two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to specific situations

[0031] An ice defrosting method for an ice maker is provided in an embodiment of the present invention, as Figure 1 shown, the ice maker includes an ice cylinder 1 and a refrigeration system for refrigerating the ice cylinder 1. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporation pipe 3, and the evaporation pipe 3 is wound around the outer periphery of the ice cylinder 1.

[0032] Specifically, the ice cylinder 1 includes a spiral groove 14 provided on the outer side of the ice cylinder 1, and the spiral groove 14 spirally extends along the length direction of the ice cylinder 1; the evaporation pipe 3 is in a spiral shape, and the spiral evaporation pipe 3 is arranged in the spiral groove 14.

[0033] The evaporation pipe 3 is arranged around the outer side of the ice cylinder 1, so that the cold generated by the evaporation pipe 3 can be directly transferred to the ice cylinder 1. At the same time, a spiral groove 14 for accommodating the evaporation pipe 3 is opened on the outer side of the ice cylinder 1, so that the evaporation pipe 3 is close to the inner wall of the spiral groove 14, increasing the area of cold transfer and improving the efficiency of cold transfer.

[0034] Furthermore, the ice maker further includes a heat insulation layer 5. The heat insulation layer 5 forms an accommodation cavity, and the ice cylinder 1 is arranged in the accommodation cavity. The evaporation pipe 3 prevents the cold from diffusing into the atmosphere through the heat insulation layer 5, resulting in cold loss.

[0035] Furthermore, as Figure 3-4 shown, the cross-section of the spiral groove 14 is semi-circular, and the radius of the semi-circle is matched with the radius of the evaporation pipe 3, so that the evaporation pipe 3 can just fit into the spiral groove 14. The cold in the evaporation pipe 3 is directly transferred to the ice cylinder 1 without passing through an air layer, reducing the cold loss caused by the air layer.

[0036] Furthermore, in the length direction of the ice cylinder 1, the distance between adjacent evaporation pipes 3 does not exceed 1 mm, so that as much of the outside of the ice cylinder 1 as possible is wound by the evaporation pipes 3, making the cold-receiving area of the ice cylinder 1 large and uniform, and preventing the segmented situation of being cold - not cold - cold in the length direction of the ice cylinder 1.

[0037] As Figure 3 shown, the ice maker further includes a water tank 2 and a water supply pipe 4. The water tank 2 is provided with a water storage cavity 21 and a water outlet 22 communicated with the water storage cavity 21. The ice cylinder 1 is further provided with an ice making cavity 11 and a water inlet 12 communicated with the ice making cavity 11. The water supply pipe 4 connects the water outlet 22 and the water inlet 12. The water in the water storage cavity 21 of the water tank 2 enters the ice making cavity 11 through the water outlet 22, the water supply pipe 4, and the water inlet 12 in sequence, realizing the water supply of the water tank 2 to the ice cylinder 1. The water in the ice making cavity 11 is refrigerated by the evaporation pipe 3 to make ice.

[0038] Specifically, the water outlet 22 is arranged at the bottom end of the water tank 2, and the water inlet 12 is arranged at the bottom of the ice cylinder 1 to facilitate the water supply of the water tank 2 and the water inlet of the ice cylinder 1. The water tank 2 is further provided with a water filling port, and the user can add water into the water storage cavity 21 through the water filling port, as Figure 3As shown in the figure, the water filling port is preferably arranged at the top of the water tank 2 to facilitate users to fill water. A water filling plug 24 is also arranged at the water filling port to close the water filling port. The ice cylinder 1 is also provided with an ice outlet 13, and the ice outlet 13 is arranged at the top end of the ice cylinder 1 to facilitate the removal of ice popsicles.

[0039] Furthermore, the water tank 2 is also provided with an exhaust pipe 23 communicated with the water storage cavity 21. The bottom end of the exhaust pipe 23 is arranged at an interval from the bottom end of the water tank 2. The bottom end of the exhaust pipe 23 is within the height range of the ice making cavity 11, and the heights of the water outlet 22 and the water inlet 12 are both lower than the bottom end of the exhaust pipe 23. The exhaust pipe 23 is arranged close to the inner wall of the water tank 2. Of course, the present invention does not limit the specific position of the exhaust pipe 23. The exhaust pipe 23 can also be arranged in the water storage cavity 21 or close to the outer wall of the water tank 2, or other feasible positions.

[0040] Furthermore, the water supply pipe 4 is provided with a valve 41 for connecting or disconnecting the water supply.

[0041] The water tank 2 and the exhaust pipe 23, the water supply pipe 4 and the ice cylinder 1 therein form a communicating vessel structure. During operation, first, the water supply of the water supply pipe 4 is disconnected through the valve 41, the water filling port at the top of the water tank 2 is opened, water is added to the water tank 2, and after being filled, the water filling port is sealed by the water filling plug 24, so that the upper space of the water surface in the water storage cavity 21 is kept closed, and the upper space of the water surface in the exhaust pipe 23 communicates with the atmosphere.

[0042] The valve 41 is opened to make the water supply pipe 4 in a connected state. The water in the water tank 2 enters the ice cylinder 1 through the water supply pipe 4. The water level in the exhaust pipe 23 drops first. When the water level drops to the lowest line of the exhaust pipe 23 (i.e., the bottom end of the exhaust pipe 23), the water level in the exhaust pipe 23 will remain unchanged; thereafter, every time a drop of water is injected into the ice cylinder 1, an air bubble will be sucked from the exhaust pipe 23 into the water storage cavity 21, cross the bottom end of the exhaust pipe 23, and supplement the closed air layer at the top of the water storage cavity 21 to keep the air pressure balance inside and outside the water storage cavity 21 until the liquid level in the ice cylinder 1 reaches the position of the bottom end of the exhaust pipe 23, and the water supply stops.

[0043] When the water in the ice cylinder 1 is made into ice under the action of the evaporation pipe 3, the ice is taken out from the ice cylinder 1. The ice making cavity 11 lacks water, and the water source is obtained from the water storage cavity 21 again through the water supply pipe 4. Under the action of the communicating vessel structure formed by the water tank 2 and the exhaust pipe 23, the water supply pipe 4 and the ice cylinder 1 therein, the water in the ice making cavity 11 is replenished to the same height as the bottom end of the exhaust pipe 23 again.

[0044] Preferably, as Figure 3 shown, in the height direction, the bottom end of the exhaust pipe 23 is arranged close to the top of the ice making cavity 11, so that as much water as possible is injected into the ice making cavity 11, and the waste of the space in the ice making cavity 11 is avoided.

[0045] Of course, the water supply pipe 4 may not be disconnected through the valve 41, and the outlet of the ice cylinder 1, such as the ice outlet 13 described below, may be blocked to prevent water from overflowing.

[0046] The ice removal method described above includes the following steps:

[0047] Detect the temperature T of the ice cylinder 1, and compare the temperature T of the ice cylinder 1 with the preset ice-making temperature T 冰 for comparison;

[0048] If the temperature T of the ice cylinder 1 < the preset ice-making temperature T 冰 , and the continuous ice-making time t 结冰 , then control the reverse flow of the refrigerant in the compressor, condenser and evaporation tube 3 to heat the ice cylinder 1;

[0049] When the heating time reaches the preset heating time t 加热 or the temperature T of the ice cylinder 1 reaches the preset ice-removal temperature T 脱冰 , take out the ice cubes to complete ice removal.

[0050] Measure the temperature T of the ice cylinder 1. When the temperature T of the ice cylinder 1 < the preset ice-making temperature T 冰 , and the continuous ice-making time t 结冰 elapses, it is considered that the ice-making for this time is completed, and the ice in the ice cylinder 1 needs to be taken out for the next ice-making. Since the ice cubes are usually frozen to the ice cylinder, it is necessary to control the heating of the ice cylinder 1 to melt the surface of the ice cubes and separate them from the inner wall of the ice cylinder 1, so that the ice cubes can be taken out from the ice cylinder 1. Preferably, the preset ice-making temperature T 冰 is -12 to -5°C; more preferably, the ice-making time t 结冰 is 5 - 30 min. When the temperature T of the ice cylinder 1 is maintained at -12 to -5°C for 5 - 30 min, the ice-making is completed.

[0051] In the ice removal method of the ice maker provided by the present invention, the refrigeration method adopted by the ice maker is to wind the evaporation tube 3 outside the ice cylinder 1, so that the ice cylinder 1 can more effectively utilize the cold quantity of the evaporation tube 3. When the ice cylinder 1 needs to be heated after the ice-making is completed, based on the positional relationship between the evaporation tube 3 and the ice cylinder 1, it is relatively difficult to set a heating device outside the ice cylinder 1. In this application, the refrigerant in the compressor, condenser and evaporation tube 3 is made to flow in the reverse direction, so that the evaporation tube 3 is used as a condenser, and the condenser is used as the evaporation tube 3. Thus, the evaporation tube 3 can generate heat like the condenser in a normal refrigeration system of the refrigeration system, so as to provide heat for the ice cylinder 1. Therefore, there is no need to consider the problem of adding a heating device for the ice cylinder 1, nor will the volume of the ice maker increase due to ice removal.

[0052] When the ice cylinder 1 is heated to the preset heating time t 加热 later, preferably, the preset heating time t 加热is 10 - 180 s, which is sufficient to thaw the surface of the ice cube so that the ice cube has separated from the inner wall of the ice cylinder 1. The preset heating time t 加热 The specific design is related to the volume of the ice cylinder 1. Or, the temperature T of the ice cylinder 1 reaches the preset de-icing temperature T 脱冰 , preferably, the preset de-icing temperature T 脱冰 is -5 to 5 °C, then it is considered that the surface of the ice cube has thawed and the ice cube has separated from the inner wall of the ice cylinder 1.

[0053] After that, the ice cube can be taken out of the ice cylinder 1, and the compressor is turned off to restore the refrigeration system to the state before normal refrigeration.

[0054] In some embodiments, the ice cylinder 1 is provided with the aforementioned water inlet 12 and a heating wire (not shown) disposed at the water inlet 12; the temperature T of the ice cylinder 1 < the preset ice-making temperature T 冰 , and the continuous ice-making time t 结冰 When the ice cylinder 1 is heated, the heating wire is controlled to be turned on to heat the water inlet 12.

[0055] When the ice maker makes ice, not only is it easy for the ice cube to freeze on the inner wall of the ice cylinder 1, but the water inlet 12 is also easily frozen because it needs to supply water to the ice cylinder 1 and needs to be connected to the inside of the ice cylinder 1. To solve this problem, a heating wire (not shown in the figure) is provided at the water inlet 12 of the ice cylinder 1. When heating and de-icing are required after ice making is completed, the heating wire is controlled to be turned on to heat the water inlet 12, so that the ice formed at the water inlet 12 melts, and thus the next water inlet and ice making can be carried out.

[0056] Furthermore, when the heating time of the heating wire reaches t 加热丝 , or the temperature T of the ice cylinder 1 reaches the heating wire off temperature T 加热丝 , the heating wire is controlled to be turned off. When the heating wire is heated for a certain time, that is, t 加热丝 , it can be considered that the ice formed at the water inlet 12 has melted and water inlet can be realized again. Or, when the temperature of the ice cylinder 1 reaches a certain temperature, that is, T 加热丝 , when the temperature of the ice cylinder 1 reaches this temperature, it can be basically confirmed that the ice at the water inlet 12 of the ice cylinder 1 has melted completely, and water inlet can be realized again.

[0057] Even further, the heating time t of the heating wire 加热丝 > the preset heating time t 加热 , the heating wire off temperature T 加热丝 > the preset de-icing temperature T 脱冰 . After ice making is completed, during de-icing, only the surface of the ice cube needs to be melted so that the ice cube separates from the inner wall of the ice cylinder 1. The heating time of the ice cylinder 1 is short. When the preset heating time t 加热 is reached, or the temperature T of the ice cylinder 1 reaches the preset de-icing temperature T 脱冰That's all. Freezing at the water inlet 12 will affect the water inlet efficiency of the ice bin 1. It is necessary to completely melt the ice at the water inlet 12 as much as possible. As a result, the heating time of the heating wire will be relatively long, and the temperature T of the ice bin 1 will be relatively high when the heating wire is turned off, making the heating time t of the heating wire 加热丝 > the preset heating time t 加热 , and the temperature T when the heating wire is turned off 加热丝 > the preset ice removal temperature T 脱冰 .

[0058] Preferably, the heating time t of the heating wire 加热丝 is 60 - 180 s, and the temperature T when the heating wire is turned off 加热丝 is -5 to 10 °C.

[0059] Furthermore, the ice maker in the ice removal method provided by the present invention further includes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the ice bin 1. The temperature sensor is arranged on the outer side wall of the ice bin 1 or at a position of the ice bin 1 close to the water inlet 12.

[0060] It should be understood that although this specification is described according to the embodiments, not every embodiment only contains an independent technical solution. This narrative way of the specification is only for clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0061] The series of detailed descriptions listed above are only specific descriptions of the feasible embodiments of the present invention, and they are not used to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any equivalent embodiments or changes made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A defrosting method for an ice maker, characterized in that, The ice maker includes an ice barrel and a refrigeration system for refrigerating the ice barrel. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser and an evaporation pipe, and the evaporation pipe is wound around the outer periphery of the ice barrel; The ice removal method includes the following steps: Detect the temperature T of the ice bin and compare the temperature T of the ice bin with the preset ice-making temperature T 冰 for comparison; If the temperature of the ice barrel T < the preset ice-making temperature T 冰 , and the continuous ice-making time t 结冰 , then control the refrigerant in the compressor, condenser and evaporation tube to flow in the reverse direction to heat the ice barrel; When the heating time reaches the preset heating time t 加热 or the temperature T of the ice barrel reaches the preset defrosting temperature T 脱冰 take out the ice cubes to complete defrosting.

2. The ice removal method of the ice maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, Preset ice-making temperature T 冰 is -12 to -5 °C.

3. The ice-making machine defrosting method according to claim 2, characterized in that, Freezing time t 结冰 is 5 - 30 min.

4. The ice removal method of the ice maker according to claim 3, characterized in that, Preset heating time t 加热 is 10 - 180 s.

5. The ice defrosting method of the ice maker according to claim 4, characterized in that Preset defrosting temperature T 脱冰 is -5 to 5 °C.

6. The ice defrosting method of the ice maker according to claim 1, wherein The ice barrel is provided with a water inlet and a heating wire arranged at the water inlet; The temperature T of the ice barrel < the preset ice-making temperature T 冰 , and when the continuous ice-making time t 结冰 is reached, while heating the ice barrel, control to turn on the heating wire to heat the water inlet.

7. The ice removal method of the ice maker according to claim 6, characterized in that, The heating time of the heating wire reaches t 加热丝 , or the temperature T of the ice barrel reaches the heating wire shutdown temperature T 加热丝 , then control the heating wire to turn off.

8. The ice defrosting method of the ice maker according to claim 7, characterized in that, The heating time t of the heating wire 加热丝 >The preset heating time t 加热 , the shutdown temperature T of the heating wire 加热丝 >The preset defrosting temperature T 脱冰 .

9. The ice removal method of the ice maker according to claim 8, characterized in that, The heating time t of the heating wire 加热丝 is 60 - 180 s, and the temperature T at which the heating wire is turned off 加热丝 is -5 to 10 °C.

10. The ice removal method of the ice maker according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The ice maker further includes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the ice barrel, and the temperature sensor is arranged on the outer side wall of the ice barrel or at a position of the ice barrel close to the water inlet.

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